Why is it called a "MARKER"?

[jjext]

I was just wondering why do they call paintball guns markers? Is it because they "mark" people with paint? If anyone knows the real reason they are called that that'd be great.

[LordChaos]

Originally posted by jjext
I was just wondering why do they call paintball guns markers? Is it because they "mark" people with paint? If anyone knows the real reason they are called that that'd be great.

Because they were originaly used (before the first ever paintball game) to do things like marking trees for logging, marking cattle, and so forth (gave a person the ability to "mark" an item that was well beyond safe reach.)

[NSUCK]

then of course (as it is with man's nature) they started shooting eachother and it became a sport :) yippie

[davkad]

it is, because they "mark" people with paint.

the original purpose of a paintball gun was for herding cattle, they would simply [b]mark]/b] the cattle with paint.

now, it is used more as a politically correct term. paintballers want to be seen, not as miliary simulators, but they want to be seen as players of a new sport - paintball. Things like wearing jerseys, having team-oriented leagues and tournaments, and playing games like speedball help give the game a better image. As well as wearing proper equipment, and always being good sports. Most players, atleast pretty much all the ones i play with, want the game to become a "sport".

so marker would be a head start. getting away from "guns" and war simulation, would be the first step in establishing paintball the sport.

[UTLadiesMan]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the markers used in the first game Nelson Paint Marking Pistols? So just by convention, we still call them markers. Also, the whole anti-gun sentiment by many potential young players parents...

[Sked Finger]

They call them markers for two reasons.
1. It sounds better. A person rather here "marker" than "gun" its more policitly correct.
2. When paintguns were first made they were used for marking trees that needed to be cut down.

[Torf]

The only markers I have come in a yellow box with many colors. When I paintball, I use a gun.

[elTwitcho]

No you use a marker. Just because you call it a gun does not mean it is one.

[anchorite]

thank you el-twitcho...
I didnt feel it was appropriate for me to post here because I have already said everything I have to say about the subject.

everyone should listen to el twitcho because he has some bomb *** ho's in his avatar.... yup..... she's got a purty mouth... hahaha.
never mind.

but they are not guns... they are markers.
if you think differently, you are wrong. there are no two ways around it. YOU ARE WRONG

[elTwitcho]

Originally posted by anchorite

but they are not guns... they are markers.
if you think differently, you are wrong. there are no two ways around it. YOU ARE WRONG

LOL, eloquently put :D

[splatterpunx]

and,maybe im wrong here,im going to go out on a limb
i think there's some sort of law against shooting people with guns
in adition to that id imagine it would be messy and the field owners wouldent be happy about the gut's all over there 5k airball fields....?!

[Sked Finger]

I guess if you say "i'll shoot you with my marker" it sounds better then "i'll shoot you with my gun"

[The_Pipes]

When I jokingly threaten my friends saying "...... or I'll cap you with my marker" it would sound a lot worse saying "........ or I'll cap you with my gun".

It just doesnt have the same affect. Also at school teachers usually dont know what a marker is other then the stuff that smells like fruit.